New antifreeze law named for Millbury priest's dog

Sunday

Jan 6, 2013 at 3:00 PMJan 6, 2013 at 10:24 PM

By Elaine Thompson TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The Rev. Paul M. LaPalme no longer has his beloved dog, Schubert, but he's delighted that Gov. Deval Patrick on Jan. 4 signed “Schubert's Law,” which mandates the addition of a bittering agent to large wholesale containers of antifreeze so pets and children won't be attracted to the poisonous sweet-tasting substance.

The law, which goes into effect in 90 days, expands a law from 2010 that requires a bittering agent be added to small retail containers of antifreeze.

Schubert's Law is the result of Father LaPalme contacting state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, after his 8-pound wire-haired dachshund became fatally ill after lapping from a puddle that contained antifreeze near a Worcester dealership where Father LaPalme's car was being serviced.

“I'm thrilled. I'm so happy that finally the Legislature is protecting our animals and children from antifreeze, in the small amounts and the large amounts as well,” Father LaPalme, pastor of St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church, said in a telephone interview Saturday.

“It's a great tribute to my little dog Shubert, who had to die so we could protect other dogs and children.”

According to the Humane Society of the United State's website, the sweet taste of ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in most major antifreeze brands, often tempt animals and children to drink the highly poisonous substance. Antifreeze that contains propylene glycol is less toxic.

Schubert's Law mandates the addition of an extremely bitter substance known as denatonium benzoate to large wholesale containers of antifreeze commonly used at car dealerships and car repair and maintenance shops. According to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, denatonium benzoate is already used in some household products, and does not have any known long-term negative environmental or health effects. Animal protection advocates estimate that each year thousands of children are poisoned by antifreeze and between 10,000 and 90,000 companion animals die from antifreeze poisoning.

According to the HSUS, other states, including Arizona, California, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont and Washington, have passed similar laws.

Father LaPalme said he has replaced 6-year-old Schubert with Cooper, a 14-month-old Havenese.

“He's a wonderful little boy. He's a great replacement for Schubert, but truth be told, Schubert was one of a kind,” he said. “Now that we've passed Schubert's Law, he'll live on in a whole new way for other dogs and children as well.”